Violence Against Women
Overview
Violence against women is the world's largest pandemic -- and Breakthrough's central issue focus today. Our organization was founded, in fact, with the 2001 release in India of a record album about women's rights featuring the blockbuster song and music video Man Ke Manjeere, which celebrates a woman's freedom from violence and inspiration to others.
Partner assault, early marriage, "honor" killings, rape as a weapon of war: these and many other crimes are committed against women because they are women. Violence against women is not only a violation of women's human rights to safety and self-determination; it also holds families, communities and countries back. It keeps half the world's population from contributing fully to their local and national economies, from moving the world to its full potential. And it is what makes the most dangerous place in the world for a woman her very own home.
According to a recent major report by the World Health Organization, 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Most of this violence is committed by their intimate partners. "Violence against women is not a small problem that only occurs in some pockets of society," the report reads, "but rather is a global public health problem of epidemic proportions, requiring urgent action."
Breakthrough works to transform the attitudes toward women that cause, justify, or excuse violence. We work to build a world where women -- and all marginalized people -- are safe in their homes and limitless in their ambitions. Our newest and largest initiative to combat violence against women is Ring the Bell: One million men. One million promises, which calls on men to take concrete action to help end violence against women and change the culture -- including the inequality and discrimination -- that allows it to persist. This is the first initiative of our global Ring the Bell campaign, which itself began in India as Bell Bajao ("ring the bell" in Hindi) and grew into our longest-running and most internationally-lauded effort to date. Bell Bajao calls on men to interrupt overheard domestic violence and, collectively, make the "private" public and the "acceptable" unacceptable.
We also work to draw attention to abuses and violations faced by women immigrants to the United States, and how current policies and practices contribute to violence against those women and their families.
Given the current, unprecedented attention to acts of violence against women from Delhi to Steubenville and more -- and the unprecedented level of action taken by men in response -- (not to mention momentum around immigration overhaul in the United States) we believe that we stand today at a global tipping point on the issue of our time. With your hard work, and with men as leaders and partners, we -- in this generation -- can build a world in which all of us can live freely, fully, and without fear.
MediaView All
Man Prayer – words by Eve Ensler
video | Posted: 01/08/2013“Man Prayer” – words by Eve Ensler, film by Tony Stroebel Courtesy of One Billion Rising
Watch our Bell Bajao video “Knock Knock” where ringing a doorbell can protect a woman from violence
video | Posted: 05/29/2012Ringing a doorbell is all you need to do to bring domestic violence to a halt.
Bell Bajao! Watch our video as a bank clerk rings the bell for violence against women
video | Posted: 06/10/2010A man attacks his wife when he notices a spot on his clothes. A bank teller passing by, here’s this behind closed doors. Watch what he does to bring domestic violence to a halt.
Bell Bajao: a bus driver rings the bell for violence against women
video | Posted: 06/10/2010She asks her husband if would stop drinking. He becomes outraged. When a bus driver passing by overhears the conversation, see what he does to bring domestic violence to a halt. As part of Breakthrough’s latest campaign Bell Bajao! (Ring the Bell), we are urging men to take a stand against domestic violence. One out […]
Bell Bajao: A software engineer rings the bell
video | Posted: 06/10/2010A couple hears a man beating his wife in their apartment building. Watch to see if take action to bring domestic violence to a halt.
Bell Bajao PSA “Got Milk?”, asking for milk can protect a woman from violence (English)
video | Posted: 06/09/2009Asking for a small cup of milk is all you need to do to bring domestic violence to a halt. As part of Breakthrough’s latest campaign “Bell Bajao” (Ring the Bell), we are urging men to take a stand against domestic violence.
The making of our cult classic “Mann ke Manjeeré”
video | Posted: 02/24/2009The Making of Mann ke Manjeeré documents the idea behind the hit album that raises awareness about women’s human rights violations through music.
Babul music video looks at domestic violence through the eyes of a child (English)
video | Posted: 02/24/2009Explore the realities of domestic violence through the eyes of a young girl.
Bollywood actor Boman Irani brings domestic violence to a halt with Bell Bajao! (Ring Ring)
video | Posted: 02/24/2009When a man (played by Boman Irani) hears a neighbor beating his wife, he suddenly wants to make a call — at his neighbor’s house.
www.bellbajao.org
Mann ke Manjeeré (French)
video | Posted: 02/23/2009Breakthrough’s first campaign all started with a music video Mann ke Manjeeré: a fearless woman (actress Mita Vasisht) leaves an abusive marriage and works as a truck driver to support and empower her daughter and herself.
Mann ke Manjeeré (Spanish)
video | Posted: 02/23/2009Cult classic, Mann ke Manjeeré depicts a woman (actress Mita Vashisht) leaves an abusive marriage and works as a truck driver to save her life and her daughters.
Learn
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breakthrough insight: Bell Bajao
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- The Bell Bajao Insight illustrates how Breakthrough implements its mission to mobilize communities... More...
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Is This Justice? – Summary Evaluation
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- View the key findings on the impacts of Is This Justice? Breakthrough's multi-media campaign... More...
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Strength in Action: A Guide to Preventing Domestic Violence
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- An educators' tool to engage young people in addressing domestic violence. More...